It is very easy to give into despair these days. Everywhere
you turn the news bursts with horror stories
— from the fall of Aleppo to the
on-going problems with contaminated rivers rendering water unsafe to drink in
China or the parts of the US to the plight of those suffering from AIDS, cancer
or other illness (to name but a few). However sometimes individuals can make a
difference. Operation Christmas Child which sends shoeboxes packed with small
items donated from schools -- and churches across the UK has been making a difference for over 25
years.This year they are concentrating on Northern Iraq and providing relief to people freed from ISIS there. In Flint Michigan thanks to the efforts of one mother Lee Ann Walters the water supply is being cleaned. AIDS sufferers are living longer thanks to the things like the Elton John Foundation
This year a friend of
mine wanted to do more than send a shoe box to help the refugees in Syria so
she and several friends created a book of poetry and woodcuts done to illustrate the poetry which
is being sold on Amazon. All proceeds are being funnelled directly to the
Refugee Aid Network UK. Amazon with its self-publishing facility made it easy
for them to do this with a lead time of only a few weeks. It is available all over the world.
But sometimes, you do reach an overload and you need substance
for your soul, a salve to help you go on.
My husband gave me an early Christmas present this year – Neil Diamond’s
Acoustic Christmas.
I also find reading Christmas romances at this time of year
particularly good when combined with listening to Christmas music, but thus far haven’t gotten around to it
(story of my life recently…) does anyone have a good suggestion.
May everyone’s Christmas have a little light called hope in
it.
In other news:
This is the cover for my new Viking which comes out in February 2017.
Michelle Styles writes warm, witty and intimate historical romances for Harlequin Historical. Her next Viking set romance Sold to the Viking Warrior will be published in Feburary 2017
